Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participates in the ‘Diwali Festival 2025’ organized by Uttaranchal Press Club in Dehradun

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday attended the ‘Diwali Festival 2025’ program organized by the Uttaranchal Press Club in Dehradun. During the event, the Chief Minister also distributed prizes to the winners of the lucky draw.

The Chief Minister said that the process for the allocation of land to the Uttaranchal Press Club is underway. Once this process is completed, a grand building for the Press Club will also be constructed.

Appreciating the contribution of journalists, the Chief Minister said that since the days of the Uttarakhand statehood movement till today, numerous journalists have played a vital role in the overall development of the state through their writings.

Extending his advance Diwali greetings to all journalists, Chief Minister Dhami said that the festival of Diwali spreads positive energy in everyone’s life. He compared the life of journalists to the lamps of Diwali, saying that “just as the lamps illuminate the darkness, journalists work day and night to guide society.”

The Chief Minister urged everyone to adopt indigenous (Swadeshi) products this Diwali. He said that to build a developed India and a developed Uttarakhand, it is necessary to promote Swadeshi products within the country.

Dhami stated that the state government is sensitive to the problems of journalists. Several initiatives have been undertaken to ensure the safety, health insurance, emergency assistance, and housing for journalists. Under the Senior Journalist Honour Scheme, many veteran journalists are being felicitated.

He further added that the pension of journalists has been increased, and efforts have been made through the Information Department to provide suitable accommodation for journalists visiting Dehradun from various districts, as was done previously.

The Chief Minister announced that under the Chief Minister Journalist Pension Scheme, the budget of the Journalist Welfare Fund has been increased from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore. Health camps are also being organized keeping in mind the well-being of journalists.

Across the state, the modernization of media centers and the empowerment of press clubs have begun.

The Chief Minister praised journalists for their dedication to truth and public interest, saying that their work is truly commendable. He added that journalists and journalism go far beyond political and social reporting — they help keep democracy alive.

By communicating government schemes to the public and bringing people’s issues to the attention of the government, journalists fulfill two of democracy’s most important responsibilities.

On this occasion, MLA Khajan Das, Vice Chairman of the Disaster Management Advisory Committee Vinay Ruhela, Hemraj Bisht, Director General of Information Banshidhar Tiwari, President of the Uttaranchal Press Club Bhupendra Kandari, General Secretary Surendra Daseela, and several other journalists were present.

(Issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations)